Tennessee coaching search: Day 12

Tennessee coaching search: Day 12

Tennessee coaching search: Day 12

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s coaching search is in its twelth day to replace offensive coordinator Tyson Helton.

Vols Wire learned Tuesday night that former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was a serious candidate at Liberty to become the Flames’ head coach after discussing him with people at Liberty.

Vols Wire has discussed the search with numerous people to get a gauge on various coaches Wednesday night and throughout Thursday.

Thursday morning Vols Wire was told by someone that works with the University Houston that Cougar offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ relationship with head coach Major Applewhite is strong and that even if there were any small difficulties in working together, then that would not be a factor in leaving over.

Vols Wire was told Wednesday night from one source with knowledge of Houston, saying that it is not easy to work with Applewhite, but was not sure if that factored into Briles actually leaving.

One other source discussing Briles said he would be a home run hire, but his baggage from Baylor is obviously there. Another person told Vols Wire that Briles’ ability to be creative and utilize tight ends will sit well with Jeremy Pruitt in the interview process.

Veteran UT reporter Mark Nagi joined the Vols Wire podcast Thursday night to discuss Briles who is set to interview for Tennessee’s staff vacancy.

A source in South Carolina discussed Gamecock offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon with Vols Wire Thursday morning. Vols Wire was told that McClendon is committed to Will Muschamp due to the opportunity that he was given and that the only lateral move that they could see him making in the SEC East would be to his alma mater, Georgia.

The only move that they could see on South Carolina’s staff is running backs coach Bobby Bentley reuniting with Gus Malzahn at Auburn, replacing the departed Chip Lindsey as offensive coordinator. Bentley served as an offensive analyst at Auburn from 2014-15.

Vols Wire was told Wednesday night that Troy head coach Neal Brown ultimately wants a Power 5 head coaching job down the road, but money could be a reason to leave a Group of 5 head coaching position for an offensive coordinator position at Tennessee. It remains to be seen if Brown will make a move to make more money for what could be a two-year OC transition before leaving for a Power 5 head coaching position, or wait and see if there is a Power 5 HC job after the 2019 season after staying at Troy.

Vols Wire discussed Brown with someone at Troy Thursday afternoon and they were unaware of anything regarding the Trojans’ head coach and Tennessee.

Vols Wire also discussed Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich with two sources in Stillwater Wednesday night. Both said Yurcich is loyal to Mike Gundy, however money could finally be of interest for his family. Yurcich has held his position since 2013 after coming from Shippensburg.

Both sources said that Yurcich has a desire in becoming a head coach at a MAC school. One source discussed Yurcich and the Tennessee job at the Cowboys’ basketball game Wednesday night at Tulsa, saying the OSU offensive coordinator has a big recruiting weekend ahead and things may not move quick with him if Tennessee is realistically a possibility. There is also a level of excitement from Yurcich to coach Texas 2017-18 Gatorade State Player of the Year quarterback Spencer Sanders next season.

Revisiting Yurcich discussions with one of the Oklahoma State sources Thursday night, Vols Wire was told that the Cowboy offensive coordinator continues to be all-in preparing for the upcoming recruiting weekend.

Munson says “if Streeter has an opportunity it would be more of a head coach than sliding to another assistant position” and that “he and his family are very comfortable here at Clemson and he knows what he has here — it would be surprising if he made a jump to Tennessee.”

Alabama quarterbacks coach Dan Enos also remains a possibility to join Pruitt’s staff, but could also very well stay with Alabama.

One of Enos’ former players at Cincinnati, who currently works for Mark Dantonio at Michigan State discussed Enos with Vols Wire, saying “Tennessee would be getting a great guy, a great recruiter and a great coach.”